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Instruction: What is the main difference between IP over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and IP over Ethernet (Ethernet)?

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The key difference between IP over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and IP over Ethernet (Ethernet) is in their basic underlying technology. Ethernet is a packet-switched technology based on CSMA/CD protocol and it uses Ethernet frames for data transmission. On the other hand, ATM is a connection-oriented technology that uses fixed-sized packets called cells for data transmission. 
Ethernet works on the principle of broadcasting, wherein data is sent out over all physical wires at the same time. But ATM is a point to point communication system, which means data is sent only to a specific destination. 
Ethernet is mostly used for local area networking and it is easier to configure. ATM is mostly used in wide area networking and is more secure than Ethernet.